HELP ME!!!

Happy snow day!!! It’s so tempting to take pictures in the snow, but how many of you have noticed that they always come out too white and washed out? Your digital cameras may have a setting for snow. If not, or if you’re shooting with your film cameras, here are some tips:

1. Make your f-stop the highest number possible. Light reflects off of all of the snow (even if you don’t see that happening) so you need to make the apeture in your camera lens as small as possible.

2. Take a light meter reading off of your subect (that means getting close enough to your subject so that minimal snow is in the picture frame, and then take a reading). After you’ve taken the reading, step back and take your picture at that setting, even if your light meter is telling you that it’s not the correct reading.

3. Bracket your shots. Don’t take all of your pictures at the same f-stop. For example, if your reading tells you that the proper setting is f8,take the shot at f8, but shoot two more at f11 anf f5.6.

As we begin our unit on photographing people, you may find that individuals are hesitant to have their picture taken, largely becuase they don’t want their image misused. I highly advise that you keep hard copies of a model release form with you, in your camera bag, as a means of reassuring your subjects and also protecting your rights of (limited/educational) use.

A sample of what a model release at your stage could like. Feel free to print this. If you have difficulty printing from the bolg there is also an attachment of it located at the bottom of our web-page.

When shooting this next assignment, please remember this. In fact, write it on a piece of tape and put it on the back of your camera! If your light meter is telling you “too dark” (reading is in the negative zone) then lower the number of your f-stop, or your shutter speed.